ANNUAL REPORT - CHAIRMANS REPORT 

12 APRIL 2007 


It was exciting and yet daunting to be elected but it fitted in very well with my retirement and I felt I could give 
the post the time and commitment it required. 

Caroline Marshall was appointed our Partnership Manager at Chamwood Borough Council and she visited us 
to speak about her role and duties if needed. The clerks have contacted her on a couple of occasions and
the liaison with C.B.C. appears to have improved.

Jon Timpson was appointed our new handyman/litter picker when Matt Richardson had to resign due to 
new time schedules in his main employment. We were sad to have to change again but Jon is proving to 
be a competent and likeable replacement who tells me he is very happy with his job and his colleagues. 

Glynis Smith, our deputy clerk has achieved CILCA Qualification during the year. Congratulations on her hard
 work leading to some of her papers now being used in a training module. Beverly and Glynis work well together 
and I hope they enjoy the planned shared office facility once the alterations have been completed. 

The lengthy toilet closure on the car park was a disgrace and is now having to be dealt with again. This is an area 
where we were completely dissatisfied with Charnwood Borough Council. Neither were we happy with 
the lack of police presence in the village. Betty Crick and I visited Inspector Yallop at Quorn Police Station to 
discuss the problems and stated a Police Community Support Officer was not adequate for a village our size 
with its parking and vandalism problems. The dedicated officer was often absented. We were assured 
reorganisation was already being discussed. This has led to a move and change of duties for Brian Geeson, 
whom we wish well. Our new P.C.S.O. is training in Barrow and will join us soon. 

Parking will no longer be the remit of the police but the Street Wardens whose managers visited us to outline 
their perceived new duties. Another of their duties will be to deal with dog fouling and this was partly the reason 
we discontinued our contract with the lady we previously employed to deal with this constant problem. 
Read parish minutes from anywhere in the land and this problem always features! Let's hope the Street Wardens
prove effective before long as at the moment they are only proving elusive. 

Our wonderful children's play equipment was destroyed by arsonists who also burnt half a dozen litter bins. 
Sheer vandalism again blighted our park and it is little consolation that our insurance covered it. Ultimately we 
still pay through rocketing insurance costs. 

Talks have taken place about a proposed new Health Centre. The Parish Council supports the plan in principle 
but the Youth Club site, despite some advantages, remains a contentious issue. 

The planning of a pavilion on the park has been a major project during the past year. Sileby Town Football Club 
did an excellent job erecting their temporary changing facility, a much better option than the proposed mobile 
showers. We now have planning consent and can press on with tenders, builders and hopefully some
 community involvement in the project. 

The park enhancement has proved slow in developing and will have to proceed in tandem with the pavilion and 
car park construction. 

The work done by the Sileby Cricket Club a couple of weeks ago should be used as encouragement for others. 
The visible difference to their ground is wonderful. It highlights the attitude in the club and their 
achievements last year. It was one of my proudest moments to present the plaque from the Parish Council in 
recognition of "their best season ever". 

This was just one of many 'Civic Duties' I have enjoyed during the past year. I first wore the chain to welcome 
Richard Hopkins as Rector on a hot July evening in a packed St. Mary's Church. I was very impressed mingling 
with so many dignitaries at the Mayor's Civic Service at Syston. 

I was proud to represent Sileby at both Barrow and Sileby Armistice Parades and at Barrow Civic Service of 
which Ted Rogers should be very proud. I welcomed the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress to the Victorian Market 
and Christmas Lights and have tried to visit many things in the village both officially and because I thought I 
ought to, and I must say I have enjoyed them all, not forgetting Easter's Heritage Exhibition. 

For me the highlight of the year was the visit of the Mayor and Mayoress of Charnwood to Sileby. 
They were genuinely pleased with their tour and delighted with their reception and welcome everywhere they went. 
They were interested and surprised by some things in Sileby as they have mentioned when I have met them since. 
They too have made me feel welcome at their functions and I have valued their friendship and warm 
interest this past year. 

I thoroughly enjoyed last year. I was amazed at the time I could easily spend on council business and how 
many mornings I have been in the office. I've learnt a lot, not only about council business but councillors as well. 
Your input and involvement vary but we all have lives to lead and work and home commitments to balance. 
I was sad when Robert Cross resigned as he was the young blood we needed but I think we all appreciated 
his problems and wish him well. 

All your contributions are valued, not only Parish Councillors but also Borough and County Councillors. 
Thank you all for your involvement, encouragement and constructive criticism. Thanks to Betty for her 
friendship, her advice, her company and her able substitution in my absences. 

Patricia Staples.